Disclaimer - Don't own Naruto ... or even Sasuke ...
Action all gone now ...
Naruto is awake, but he keeps his eyes resolutely shut. From the feel of things, from the babble of concerned voices all around, it would seem that he is in a hospital. If things go as they always do, he will be the first one awake, and he will be the one they ask. "What happened to your team, Naruto?" "What happened to the enemy, Naruto?" "What happened to you, Naruto?" "What happened to the Fox?" Just once, he wants it to be different.
But somehow, it is different. For the first time he feels … alone. He's not sure if he likes it, to tell the truth. There's no voice urging him to jump up. No voice telling him to shout to the world that Uzamuki Naruto, future Hokage is here. No voice raging at him to fight, to rip, to tear, to kill.
The voices around him finally break into the silence inside.
"……… third degree burns all over her body … broken bones … cuts … only the Fifth's jutsu saved her …"
"… spine snapped, we don't know if he'll ever walk again ……"
"…… mark on his neck … slight burn … won't wake up …"
One clear voice cuts across the babble, "And Naruto?"
"No sign of the Kyuubi-" "-think the Third's seal broke-" "-skin been repeatedly regenerated, shortening his life span-" "-expect him to wake at any time-" "-ANBU outside just in case-"
It was him wasn't it? He let the demon out, and now his friends are … and … and he's alone. Overwelming loneliness fills him, and then disgust wells up, and then he isn't just pretending to be asleep.
Sasuke's eyes snap open, burning red. He's breathing hard, as if he's just been on a long run, unaware of his surroundings, completely focused on his struggle with … who? Memories don't come when he calls.
Breathing slows, and he becomes aware of his surroundings as the sharingan fades away, bloody crimson becoming his usual deep black. A shaft of sunlight falls across his lower face, reminding him or a kiss, of … Naruto. He nearly laughs, remembering the shock of their 'first kiss' all those years ago, how angry the girls had been. Smiling slightly, not the norm for the usually expressionless Uchiha, he turns his head to the side, away from the gentle breeze wafting through the partially opened window. The contrast of hot and cold, sun and wind on the back of his neck makes his skin tingle.
A single flower sits in a clear vase of water beside his bed. Only one? So who was it, Sakura or Ino? Maybe he should ask one of them for a date later. No. What is he thinking, he has to keep training, there's no room for anything, anything at all, except Uchicha Itachi. Hmmph. Itachi will easily fall to his power when the time comes.
Cheered by this unusually cheerful thought, he springs out of bed, and only then notices the blonde boy asleep on the other side of the room. Now he really does laugh as he walks over to him. The idiot must have fallen asleep waiting for him to wake up. There's no way he could still be under with his rapid healing.
The boy's blue eyes, almost pretty enough to belong to a girl, are closed, and his mouth, usually wide open in a grin is almost shut. There is something so wrong about this silence from Naruto that Sasuke grabs his shoulder, to shake him and wake him up. His hand stops partway as his eyes focus on those whidker like markings across his face. Naruto. Kyuubi. Memories return unbidden-
Sakura, pinned to a tree. Naruto, burning with chakra. The nine-tails batting aside Kakashi. Flames, licking around Sakura. Himself, locking eyes with the beast.
-and then the flow stops, as those blue eyes open sleepily. They remain unfocused for a second or two before spotting Sasuke.
"Hey, Sasuke!" The outstretched hand is spotted next, "What were you gonna do, strangle me in my sleep?" Laughing, Naruto grabs it, pulling himself to his feet. Sasuke has sunk back into his usual melancholy self, a fact Naruto is quick to comment on, "What's up? Cat got your tongue?"
Sasuke forces a grin, and responds playfully, "What's up with you, dobe, sleeping all this time?"
"Fell asleep after I woke up," A rueful grin spreads across his face, "Ooo look, you got flowers! Heh, as usual."
"Ah, but only one this time … my fans must be slipping …"
"You made a joke!" A look of mock horror covers Naruto's face comically. Both laughing now, they head from the room.
Neither notices the nine-tailed seal on Sasuke's neck.
Please review! Sorry if you don't like it ...
